Friendship Cancelled?
After winning the decisive point, Nosková first ducked away, under her towel. To be alone for a moment, to block out the crowd, to compose herself. It only worked briefly. After running to the stands and hugging her father and loved ones, the emotions really began to take hold.
It was Muchová who, after the match, referred to her doubles partner and final opponent as "my former friend," drawing laughter. Muchová, whose pain of defeat was evident, nevertheless found the right words. "You are so young, it was incredible. You are such a good person, congratulations to you and your team. You deserve it."
She said she was happy to be there – even though the disappointment was great, according to Muchová. "It's a special tournament, the best in the world." Looking at her own corner, she finally burst into tears. "I will keep fighting, I will come back and hope to get another chance at the trophy."
"We are friends"
Nosková still seemed unable to truly believe she had won the grass-court classic. "I don't know how to hold it," she said, clutching the trophy. "It feels incredible. All the matches were so tough physically and mentally. Especially today."
Winning the last point is never easy, Nosková said. Especially on this day, she struggled with it at a particularly inopportune moment. "I won't forgive you for that," she said, addressing Muchová. And clarified: "We are friends. I'm so happy to have played my first Grand Slam final with you."
It was a great day for Czech tennis, for the first time two Czech women faced each other in the final of one of the four major tournaments at Wimbledon. "I believe all the fans at home are proud of us," Nosková said. "Today we made history."
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Tears of Joy and Pain
Nosková had words of thanks for everyone. To those who were there. To her father and family members who don't like to fly but came anyway, to coach Tomáš Krupa. And to those who were not there. "I want to thank my mum. I wouldn't be here without her," Nosková said, pointing to the sky.
By then, Nosková was not crying alone; the audience cried with her. Nosková's mother, Ivana, passed away from cancer before Wimbledon 2024.
"I enjoyed these two weeks so much. All the tears and tears of joy, the sweat and the blood. I can't wait to come back next year."
